St. John s Lutheran Church 111 Second Ave. NE Stewartville, Minnesota 55976 507-533-4420 www.stjohnsandweecare.org Rev. Lyle Fritsch, Pastor pastor@stjohnsandweecare.org 533-4286 Dave Erickson, Director of Christian Education dce@stjohnsandweecare.org 268-4329 Dee Radtke, Wee Care Director director@stjohnsandweecare.org 533-6260 Serving as God s Family: Sharing His Love, Telling His Story Third Sunday after Epiphany January 27, 2019 How precious is the book divine, by inspiration given! Bright as a lamp its teachings shine to guide our souls to heaven. Its light, descending from above, our gloomy world to cheer, Displays our Savior s boundless love and brings his glories near. Lutheran Worship #332 vs. 1-2 Welcome in the name of the Lord! Guests and members who do not have email are invited to pick up a copy of this week s church announcements on the usher s stand in the narthex. To be added to our email list and receive the weekly announcements electronically, please contact secretary@stjohnsandweecare.org. Thank you. + DIVINE SERVICE + HYMN Built on the Rock LW 291 vs. 1-3 INVOCATION Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS Pastor: Beloved in the Lord: let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. People: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord have mercy on me, a sinner. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. 1
Pastor: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. HYMN Built on the Rock LW 291 v. 4 Yet in this house, an earthly frame, Jesus the children is blessing; Hither we come to praise his name, faith in our Savior confessing. Jesus to us his Spirit sent, making with us his covenant, Granting his children the Kingdom. SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM (Sunday 10:30) Pastor: All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. People: We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Pastor: If we have been united with him in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. (Romans 6:3b-5) The Word of God teaches that we are all conceived and born sinful and are under the power of the devil until Christ claims us as his own. We would be lost forever unless delivered from sin, death and everlasting condemnation. But the Father of all mercy and grace has sent his Son Jesus Christ, who atoned for the sin of the whole world that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. THE SIGN OF THE CROSS Pastor: Caroline Louise Purrier, receive the sign of the holy cross both upon your forehead and upon your heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified. THE TASKS OF SPONSORS Pastor: From ancient times the Church has observed the custom of appointing sponsors for baptismal candidates. It is the task of sponsors to confess the Christian faith expressed in the Apostles Creed. They are to pray for them, support them in their ongoing instruction and nurture in the Christian faith, and encourage them toward the faithful reception of the Lord s Supper. Sponsors are at all times to be examples of the holy life of faith in Christ and love for one s neighbor. Cooper and Bethany, is it your intention to serve Caroline as sponsors in the Christian faith? Response: Yes, with the help of God. Pastor: God enable you to will and to do this faithful and loving work and with his grace fulfill what we are unable to do. Amen. 2
THE LORD S PRAYER Pastor: In order to implore the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the gathering of Caroline into the family of our Father, let us all join together in the Lord s Prayer: People: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Pastor: Caroline, the Lord preserve your coming in and your going out from this time forth and even forevermore. Amen. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH Pastor: Because Caroline cannot answer for herself, we shall all, together with her parents and sponsors, faithfully speak on her behalf in testimony of the forgiveness of sin and the birth of the life of faith which God our Father gives in and through Baptism. Pastor: Do you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways? People: I do renounce them. Pastor: Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty? People: Yes, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. Pastor: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son? People: Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead. Pastor: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit? People: Yes, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. THE BAPTISM Pastor: Caroline Louise Purrier, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has given you the new birth of water and of the Spirit, and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with his grace to life everlasting. Amen. THE BAPTISMAL CANDLE THE PRAYER Pastor: Almighty and most merciful God and Father, we thank and praise you that you graciously preserve and enlarge your family and have granted Caroline the new birth in Holy Baptism and made her a member of your Son, our Lord Jesus 3
Christ, and heir of your heavenly kingdom. We humbly implore you that, as she has now become your child, you would keep her in her baptismal grace that, according to your good pleasure, she may faithfully grow to lead a godly life to the praise and honor of your holy name and finally with all your saints obtain the promised inheritance in heaven. Look also with kindness upon Evan and Sonora, and upon all parents. Let them ever rejoice in the gift you have given them. Enable them to be good teachers and examples of righteousness to Caroline. Strengthen them in their own baptism so that they may share eternally with their children the salvation you have given them; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. THE WELCOME Pastor: Caroline, we receive you in Jesus name as a sister in Christ, that together we may hear his Word, receive his gifts, and proclaim the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. People: We welcome you into the Lord s family. Pastor: And you, Caroline, the Lord bless you in all your ways from this time forth and even forevermore. OLD TESTAMENT READING Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 All the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." PSALMODY Pastor: The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. People: The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Pastor: The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. 4
People: The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Pastor: The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. People: The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. Pastor: They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. People: By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Pastor: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, People: O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:7-11, 14) EPISTLE READING 2 Timothy 3:14-17 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. HOLY GOSPEL Luke 4:16-30 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked. Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.' " "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed--only Naaman the Syrian." All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. NICENE CREED Words are projected on the screen (Thursday, Sunday 8:00) HYMN God Has Spoken by His Prophet LW 343 5
SERMON PRAYERS OF THE DAY OFFERING AND SIGNING OF FRIENDSHIP REGISTERS PRAYER OF THE COMMUNICANTS People: Dear Savior, we come to your table at your gracious invitation to eat and drink your holy body and blood. Let us find favor in your eyes to receive this holy sacrament in faith for the salvation of our souls and to the glory of your holy name; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. THE WORDS OF INSTITUION PEACE Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you always. People: And also with you. DISTRIBUTION NOTE: Holy Communion is celebrated in accord with the teaching of the Holy Scripture. The Apostle Paul states in I Corinthians 11:27-28, Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. This examination is to include: whether we are sorry for our sins; whether we believe in our Savior Jesus Christ for forgiveness of our sins and in his bodily presence in this sacrament; and whether we plan, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to change our sinful lives. Those who plan to receive the sacrament are asked to read the communion card that is printed on the inside covers of the friendship registers and check communion attendance on those registers. Persons who are not members of St. John s or of a fellow Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod congregation, are kindly asked to talk with the Pastor before communing. You are still welcome to come to the rail, and by crossing your arms on your chest, to receive a blessing. During the distribution you have a choice of receiving the wine in individual cups or the chalice. If you prefer individual cups, take one as the elder offers it and hold it until Pastor sees it. (Three glasses in the center of the tray have non-alcoholic wine.) If you prefer to drink from the chalice, wait for the pastor. On Thursdays we offer only the individual cups. DISTRIBUTION HYMNS (Sunday) Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens LW 339 Preserve Your Word, O Savior LW 337 (melody: Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus) DISMISSAL PRAYER OF THE COMMUNICANTS People: Dear Lord Jesus, we thank and praise you that you have again refreshed us with the gift of your holy body and blood in this comforting sacrament. Bless our participation that we may depart from your presence with peace and joy in the knowledge that we are reconciled to God. We ask this in your name. Amen. 6
LORD S PRAYER Words are projected on the screen (Thursday, Sunday 8:00) BENEDICTION Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. HYMN Built on the Rock LW 291 v. 5 Through all the passing years, O Lord. Grant that, when church bells are ringing, Many may come to hear God s Word Where he this promise is bringing; I know my own, my own know me; You, not the world, my face shall see; My peace I leave with you. Amen. 7